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Hey Bostonist,
I'm Adam, and I'm a food writer for your sibling to the south, DCist. I'm making a trip up to Boston for St. Patty's to visit friends and will likely be the one cooking the big dinner we won't eat at either 'noch's or Harvest. What I'm looking for is the best cheesemonger in Boston, as I'm planning my menu around the cheese course. I figured you guys would have the goods. Please let me know so I won't be feeding the college friends "white american cheese" (God bless the dining hall for facilitating so many good ethnic jokes).
I'll be keeping an eye on your site for St. Patty's recommendations. Keep up the good work.
- Adam Bailey
Ahem! Here in the Commonwealth, we call it Evacuation Day, and it's a very serious historical observance! Still, as far as ways to celebrate Saint Patrick's General Washington's heroic expulsion of the snakes British from Ireland Boston, we can think of precious few activities better than eating fine cheeses.
As usual, we farmed this question out to our capable team of cheese-eaters, and they provided some starting points. Hopefully, our one remaining reader will chime in with more:
- If you're anywhere near the North End, we strongly recommend doing some wandering there for fine cheesy provisions. Endicott Street has the Fresh Cheese Shop and Purity Cheese, which makes fresh Mozzarella before your very eyes, and all through the neighborhood you will find good, fresh Italian cheeses, meats, and other deliciousness.
- In Somerville, the Wine and Cheese Cask (at the corner of Beacon and Washington) has a decent, though not overwhelming, selection of cheeses. We've always found their staff to be knowledgable and generous with the samples. Also, lots and lots of booze is available in this establishment.
- The Whole Foods on River Street in Cambridge has a wicked-huge cheese selection. Bostonist has had issues with Whole Foods before, but their cheese selection is not to be trifled with.
- Formaggio Kitchen, as its name implies, brings the ruckus when it comes to cheese, both in Cambridge on Huron Ave. and in the South End on Shawmut. They also have all manner of fancy stuff for your fancy Evacuation Day feast.
- If you're in the 'burbs, try the straighforwardly named Cheese Shop on Walden Street in Concord Center. Like most things in Concord, it ain't cheap, but the quality and selection are superb, and the place is old-timey looking in just the right way.
- While not technically a cheesemonger, we also want to throw some -ist love to Great Hill Dairy in Marion, Mass., which makes some really good blue cheese. If you're driving up from DC, you should call and see if you can stop by to pick up a six-pound wheel.
Readers? Anything to add?
Photo by Christian Bauer
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Don't mock Evacuation Day. That victory was all our fledgling country had to maintain its spirits for nearly nine months while we lost a devastating string of battles in New York. And even then we only beat up on some drunk Germans.
Also, I hear Manny's Dairy in Lancaster has great Portuguese cheese.
You guys are wicked pissah. I will be sure to drop in to Formaggio and Wine and Cheese Cask to sample their wares. I'll do some North End snooping too, since I can't escape Boston without at least one eclair.
Thanks for the Marion connection, too! That will now be a stop on the annual pilgrimage to the Cape. I don't know if six pounds will be enough, though.
Hit me up next time you're in the District. We're happy to provide any manner of lobbyist-funded lunches or drunken Bush daughter you'd ever want.
And if you need bread to go with all that cheese, you can't beat Clear Flour Bakery in Brookline. Save room for dessert, too--their tarts and croissants are amazing.